Endings for Untreated Cushings in Dogs

[SpartacusGeorge]

My 14.5 yr old beagle was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease a few months ago. He is nearly blind and deaf already - we decided not to put him through the treatment. My question is how do most older dogs with untreated Cushing's begin to fail? I would really like to minimize any suffering in his final days. Right now, I am red-flagging every little twitch and thinking if I knew what to expect, I could calm down a little and hopefully not send any frightened messages to Spartacus. He is currently on Proin to control his urine accidents and that has worked for a few months now. Would just really prefer to look at him with joy rather than fear these days. Thanks, in advance, for your knowledge & stories.

[Adcali]

My 10 year old Boston Terrier is showing signs of cushings. We did the ACTH and it came back negative so now vet wants to try ultrasound, which will cost 450 on top of the other 600 I've spent. What tests were run for your pets to get the Cushings diagnosis?

[helpdogs]

We just lost our 11 year old female Boston, Xmas day. She was never confirmed Cushing, but all the signs were there in Sept. I started the chinese herb SI Mai so--and her brown front began to come back to white (which is s sign of Cushing) However, by 10/2017 it was too late, she was too far gone for the chinese herbs.She always panted, but the excessive drinking, eating, and urinating anywhere(Not typical before) told me she had the disease. I just read that a positive UTI is typical with Cushing and my spouse settled for that explanation, but the urinating just got worse, even with antibiotic for UTI, I wish I was there at vet, I would have pushed for more tests and mentioned symptoms. It is typical for the disease to be misdiagnosed old age symptoms. Also, there is the a site  for Golden Adreanal drops that can help... many people claim success (just google Canine Adrenal drops for Cushing.) In any case, she was losing weight, urinating worse, drinking a lot, voracious appetite, but she was still going on walks, By Thanksgiving she could not jump on the couch, or beds any longer. Her muscle tone and strength were going down. She was wasting away, her rib bones on spine showing more, but she did not seem uncomfortable until the last two weeks, the breathing was labored. Now looking back at photos I believe she had the start of Cushing around November 2015. I Looked at photos of her white chest, which was beginning to discolor and that is when appetite increase happened. We were in TX, so she was always drinking  H20 a lot. My daughter mentioned Cushings in 2015, with the brown on her chest. I am feeling guilty since I did not investigate. I would say to you maybe try the natural remedies, or if you feel better with science go for it. Maybe, your Boston will do alright. My girl was overall not doing bad until the last few weeks. At the end her swollen abdomen and the rancid smell of urine and liver shut down was a sign the end was near. She just took a deep sigh and closed her eyes with all of us at home. I am telling you now as a fellow Boston lover (I still have two) be pro active. It was two years for my girl. She had full tests in 4/2015 and was a healthy dog, but it was starting by fall. Also, do not rule out the Eastern Medicine, many people have good outcome with alternatives.Google "Endings for untreated Cushings in Dogs"- Dr Beck- she has 3 good videos. I am telling you all this so you do not end up feeling guilty like I did. We are heart broke, and if I was more proactive maybe we could have had her a little longer.  My girl was an ambassador for the breed .Everyone loved her and wanted a Boston.At least now she created awareness for us:we know more about Cushings, since Bostons are prone to the disease.

[Jennkate]

Our sweet daisy Mae was 14 when we discovered she had cushings . The disease took a fast hold on her she first began wetting herself and she was a very proud soul so she began to withdraw . We had her back and fourth to the vet but at her age they recommend we just let her be . Her body began to spread out very overweight but her legs had got weak and her back side started to get raw from urinating all the time. We kept ointments and you name it we did for her until one day we came home to find her suffering and bleeding from her nose . We paniced and rushed her back to the vet at this point the vet told us it was in her best interest to put her down. We had her for 14 years and losing her that day is still one of the most painful things our family went thru . We lost a part of us that day but my point of the story is this is a very cruel and painful disease she kept urinary infections and in the end we still talk as a family and wonder if we let her suffer to long holding on to hope and feeding her medications in the end we lost the fight. But not one question to the fact she was the smartest beautiful dog with so much personality!! Would not trade those 14 years for anything . Be strong and most of all kind and forgiving and loving because this disease takes your dogs ability to control their bodies .

[broddybounce]

Just found this site -- thank you all, it's very helpful.  By sheer coincidence, when DivaMarie posted on Nov. 9th, two posts above, that was the day I decided to free my 15yo, 70lb Lab/Chow mix Frida from further pain.  After 11 years of practically zero health issues, she had a few Cushing's-type symptoms develop at age 11 -- PU/PD (excessive drinking/peeing), her gorgeous thick tail turned into more or less a rattail, potbelly, a few other miscellaneous symptoms.  Lots of testing, including going to UC Davis, the #2 vet school in the country, near Sacramento (I'm in San Francisco), and there was simply no evidence of Cushing's, no increased cortisol or abnormality with her adrenals or pituitary -- unless, of course, we got a false negative.  But, we chalked her symptoms up to (a) Diabetes Insipidus, also known as "water diabetes" or "the other diabetes," where the problem isn't lack of insulin but ADH - the anti-diuretic hormone; and (b) Hypothyroidism.   So we put her on (a) Desmopressin (believe it or not, eyedrops -- but can also be injected like insulin), and (b) Thyro-tabs.  Both worked absolute wonders:  her excessive drinking/peeing stopped, her weight went completely back to normal, some symptoms like frequent nail breakage and excessive anal gland problems went away -- although the hair thinning seemed a lost cause as far as reversal.   After 3 years of success with still no evidence of Cushing's, earlier this year at age 14, slowly some symptoms were creeping up, although we didn't make the connection -- until looking back at it now.  Even though I almost go to the vet at the drop of a hat (I had very good pet insurance for Frida), for some odd reason we missed doing a blood test at the 3-month interval, which is suggested for geriatric (vs. senior) dogs and when we finally got to doing the bloodwork a full 6 months after the previous one, we were stunned to find high liver levels and the vet immediately suspected Cushing's, which was confirmed -- and the LDDS test showed her cortisol level to be extremely high -- she probably had actually been dealing with that for at least 3 or 4 months, same as someone mentioned above.   The only problem with all this:  although there was slight increase in appetite over the summer, not but one week after the Cushing's diagnosis, Frida started to experience DECREASED appetite.  Then, at the same time, by some strange coincidence, instantaneously, hind-leg weakness, more hair thinning on the flanks, and her PU/PD came back, despite the desmopressin.  I realize this is getting a bit long, so I'll just say that, in the end, an x-ray showed a tumor on her lung (the day I put her to sleep), although not entirely substantiated that it was the cause of the decreased appetite -- some of that may have just been what some described above as the Cushing's taking its toll in the later stages.  But I do feel that we spent a little too much time trying to link the decreased appetite somehow to the Cushing's and not looking at it as a completely separate issue.  It's been a painful 3 weeks she's been gone, missing her beyond belief -- I have no partner, no children, she has been my one true soulmate -- and going through the grieving process, majorly in the "guilt" phase ("I shoulda done this," "I should have gone to that specialist instead of the one I went to who didn't push enough", etc. etc), but working towards less guilt and more happy tears!   FYI: As some of what I discussed above was not mentioned at all in earlier posts (e.g., Desmopressin & Thyro-tabs), please feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer them as best I can.  Thank you, everyone, your posts, and my writing of the above -- extremely cathartic!  :)

[Stoneydexter]

I had my lovely Westie put to sleep this week due to unconfirmed Cushing's. He was given  tests & nothing showed up. He gradually went downhill in the space of a week. I ended up hand feeding him chicken & after a couple of days he refused that, he became weaker & weaker. Prior to this at night I was carrying him up & down the stairs so he could drink lots of water & then go into the garden to pee. This was 3 or 4 times a night! On his last fateful day he was so very week. I managed to walk him down the road where I felt I was dragging him (how I regret that in hindsight). We came home & he seemed very bewildered. This was when I knew it was time. Am absolutely heartbroken ,he was my world. Wish I could've tried some meds but they wouldn't let me have anything without a confirmed diagnosis. Sad times

[DivaMarie]

Chloebaby1, My 11 1/2 Cocker Spaniel most likely has Cushings.  The vet called with her opinion which is what I had already researched.  My dog started losing fur and it doesn't grow back, limping, itchy skin, lesions and licking constantly. She can't get up the stairs in our house anymore and one morning, there was a huge puddle on our rug and vomit in the dining room.  I am not testing her for Cushings because in my heart, I know that's what it is.  She has most of the symptoms and talking about the tests and meds, it is expensive and there are no guarantees.  The side effects from the meds can be nasty as you said.  I won't put my precious girl through that or myself.  We will spend the rest of her days enjoying each day as best we can.  Yes, our walks are slower and shorter but we still take them.  Diva will let us know when the time is right.  I also worry about her being in pain and only hope that she's not.  She never whimpers, thank god, because that would kill me.  Each individual has to make their own decision for their beloved pets - they can't tell us.  Never feel guilty about the decision you make.  Pray for my girl and I will also pray for all of you who love your pets so much.  

[cdp53]

My dog gets a low dose of Trilostan, krill oil for the heart, milk thistle for the liver, and Denosyl every day.  He was diagnosed over 3 years ago and is 13 years old. No hair loss, body sores, excessive eating or drinking. No constant urination either.  However his breathing is a bit laboring at night. Will get him checked this week for that.